David Foster has publicly rejected allegations that he ignored Meghan Markle during a widely shared red carpet moment, insisting the encounter has been taken out of context. The 76-year-old music producer spoke out after footage from the David Foster Foundation's 40th anniversary gala appeared to show him walking past the Duchess of Sussex, 45, as she posed for photographs with Prince Harry.
The brief exchange quickly went viral online, but Foster now says there was a straightforward explanation: he had already welcomed the couple privately just ten minutes earlier. In a statement to People, he said, 'As the host of the David Foster and Friends foundation event, I had already greeted our friends, the Duke and Duchess, at the entrance 10 minutes before the red carpet encounter.' He added, 'They both, graciously and selflessly, gave their time and went beyond to engage with everyone. Harry and Meghan are dear friends of mine. Anyone watching can see there was no awkward moment and certainly no snub.'
Footage and Context
The video shows Meghan and Harry, 41, posing for photographers as Foster walks past. However, moments later, Foster returns with his wife, singer and actress Katharine McPhee, 42, and all four pose together, smiling and laughing. Foster accused some observers of deliberately exaggerating the interaction, saying, 'They turned simple “positioning” to get the best photo into a hurtful lie.'
The event took place in Victoria, Canada, on August 7, marking four decades of the David Foster Foundation. The charity supports Canadian families with children needing life-saving organ transplants, covering non-medical expenses during treatment. The black-tie gala, attended by Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, raised $14.5 million (£10.8 million) for the foundation.
A Longstanding Friendship
Foster's defense of Meghan is consistent with his history with the Sussexes. McPhee has known Meghan since high school in Los Angeles, long before either achieved fame, and the couples reconnected as adults. Their husbands developed an especially close bond. In a 2020 interview with Access Hollywood, McPhee described the relationship between Foster and Harry as almost father-son-like: 'My husband has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry. They’re like, they’re so cute. They’re like father and son.' She noted that while she and Meghan had known each other since childhood, it was the husbands who had become particularly close.
Foster also assisted the couple in finding privacy during a turbulent period. In 2019, he arranged for them to stay at a friend's mansion on Vancouver Island, where they could remain largely out of the public eye. He told the Daily Mail at the time that he was 'honored' to help, saying, 'I was really happy to be able to help them to find a respite just to take a little time off.'
Impact and Ongoing Connection
The friendship appears to remain strong despite the brief red carpet moment. The foundation's gala raised substantial funds for its cause, and Foster's clarification underscores the personal nature of his relationship with the Sussexes. As of now, no further statements from the couple have been made regarding the incident, but Foster's comments aim to put the matter to rest.
